Councillors have decided to take a strong stance against one of their own - Giorgio Mammoliti.

They voted 37-2 in favour of a report by the integrity commissioner that concluded the councillor violated the code of conduct by accepting a "gift" of $80,000 after a fundraiser was held for him last year.

The integrity commissioner, Janet Leiper, says the money came in the form of two cheques from the company that ran the event, money raised through ticket sales.

Mammoliti argues the event was of a personal nature, but there has been controversy over the guest list as some of those paying $500-a-plate were city hall lobbyists.

The councillor is being docked three months' of pay. In addition to that, the city will hire a solicitor to look at whether the issue should be referred to the police.

"We regard the integrity of council and each member of council in very high regard," councillor Joe Mihevc says of the message sent to Mammoliti. "If anyone thinks they can flaunt the rules and do the kinds of things that councillor Mammoliti is charged with doing, they're wrong. We will not tolerate is as council."

Councillor Mike Layton became animated when he argued that action had to be taken against Mammoliti.

"Money changed hands," Layton emphasized.

Mammoliti continues to defend himself, arguing that he did not break policy. He says he will fight tonight's vote in court.

He told reporters that he will not be "scared off" by council's decision.

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This is a larger issue than the media has reported as I believe the councilor was raising funds to retire legal fees from a prior problem. Some councilors seems to get hammered with legal fees, perhaps after acting without any sense of the possible legal outcomes.

One also gets the sense that they do not shop around for legal fees or set budgets in advance. You don't need a Harvard lawyer for a basic case, especially where the facts and law are known. One can limit trial costs, limit motion costs, etc.

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Councillors have decided to take a strong stance against one of their own - Giorgio Mammoliti.

They voted 37-2 in favour of a report by the integrity commissioner that concluded the councillor violated the code of conduct by accepting a "gift" of $80,000 after a fundraiser was held for him last year.

The integrity commissioner, Janet Leiper, says the money came in the form of two cheques from the company that ran the event, money raised through ticket sales.

Mammoliti argues the event was of a personal nature, but there has been controversy over the guest list as some of those paying $500-a-plate were city hall lobbyists.

The councillor is being docked three months' of pay. In addition to that, the city will hire a solicitor to look at whether the issue should be referred to the police.

"We regard the integrity of council and each member of council in very high regard," councillor Joe Mihevc says of the message sent to Mammoliti. "If anyone thinks they can flaunt the rules and do the kinds of things that councillor Mammoliti is charged with doing, they're wrong. We will not tolerate is as council."

Councillor Mike Layton became animated when he argued that action had to be taken against Mammoliti.

"Money changed hands," Layton emphasized.

Mammoliti continues to defend himself, arguing that he did not break policy. He says he will fight tonight's vote in court.

He told reporters that he will not be "scared off" by council's decision.

Leave a comment:

Reset Password

Simply confirm your registered email address below and click "Reset Password." We will immediately email you a link back to the site where you can enter a new password for this account.

Account E-mail:

Becoming a member only takes 60 seconds! Members get access to exclusive information and products that non-members do not, including concert ticket presales, trips, advance notice on upcoming entertainment events, movie screening passes, music giveaways and more!

This is a larger issue than the media has reported as I believe the councilor was raising funds to retire legal fees from a prior problem. Some councilors seems to get hammered with legal fees, perhaps after acting without any sense of the possible legal outcomes.

One also gets the sense that they do not shop around for legal fees or set budgets in advance. You don't need a Harvard lawyer for a basic case, especially where the facts and law are known. One can limit trial costs, limit motion costs, etc.